Mothering Magazine celebrates the experience of parenthood as worthy of one's best efforts and fosters awareness of the immense importance and value of parenthood and family life in the development of the full human potential of parents and children. Mothering recognizes parents as the experts and wish to provide truly helpful information on which parents can base informed choices. Mothering is both a fierce advocate of the needs and rights of the child and a gentle supporter of the parents, and encourages decision making that considers the needs of all membes of the family. Mothering explores the realities of human felationships in the family setting, recognizing that raising the heirs of our civilization well is the prerequisite of a healthy society. (From Mothering Magazine's Statement of Purpose)

Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom  Christiane Northrup M.D.
A groundbreaking book on women's physical and emotional well-being, completely revised, offering the most up-to-date information available on women's health issues.

Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom powerfully demonstrates that when women change the basic conditions of their lives that lead to health problems, they heal faster, more completely, and with far fewer medical interventions.

She guides readers through the entire range of women's health problems, and offers positive perspectives on normal processes, such as menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause.  Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom is contemporary medicine at its best, combining new technologies with natural remedies and the miraculous healing powers within the body itself.

Mother-Daughter Wisdom Christiane Northrup M.D.
The mother-daughter relationship sets the stage for our state of health and well-being for our entire lives. Because our mothers are our first and most powerful female role models, our most deeply ingrained beliefs about ourselves as women come from them. And our behavior in relationships—with food, with our children, with our mates, and with ourselves—is a reflection of those beliefs. Once we understand our mother-daughter bonds, we can rebuild our own health, whatever our age, and create a lasting positive legacy for the next generation.

Mother-Daughter Wisdom introduces an entirely new map of female development, exploring the “five facets of feminine power,” which range from the basics of physical self-care to the discovery of passion and purpose in life. This blueprint allows any woman—whether or not she has children—–to repair the gaps in her own upbringing and create a better adult relationship with her mother. If she has her own daughter, it will help her be the mother she has always wanted to be.

Journey Into Motherhood Providing both inspiration and education, this guide to natural childbirth offers 48 personal accounts of labor and birth without medication. Revealing the many options women have beyond birthing location, the testimonials offer insight into the joys, concerns, and realities of natural birth. From birth at home with a midwife and hearing the right words from a hospital nurse at just the right moment to describing a combination of the Bradley method and acupuncture at a birthing center and discussing a child's birth at home in warm water, this resource combines personal insight with referential information. A glossary of terms and a resource guide to books, magazines, websites, videos, and CDs, and listings of childbirth classes and instructors nationwide also included.

The Pregnancy Book by William and Martha Sears
The Pregnancy Book is an excellent all-in-one guide to pregnancy from William and Martha Sears, creators of the concept of "attachment parenting." Each of the book's chapters represents a month, and deals with physical and emotional changes, describes the growth of the fetus, and discusses common concerns. The authors also focus on nutrition, exercise, information and support for home births and birthing centers, traveling while pregnant, how to avoid episiotomy, and so on. The approach is gentle, thorough, and includes more information than some month-by-month guides, which makes The Pregnancy Book an excellent choice for pregnant couples.

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin Drawing upon her thirty-plus years of experience, Ina May Gaskin, the nation’s leading midwife, shares the benefits and joys of natural childbirth by showing women how to trust in the ancient wisdom of their bodies for a healthy and fulfilling birthing experience. Based on the female-centered Midwifery Model of Care, Ina May’s Guide to Natural Childbirth gives expectant mothers comprehensive information on everything from the all-important mind-body connection to how to give birth without technological intervention.

Ina May’s Guide to Natural Childbirth takes the fear out of childbirth by restoring women’s faith in their own natural power to give birth with more ease, less pain, and less medical intervention.

Birthing from Within by Pam England
A holistic approach to childbirth that examines this profound rite-of-passage, not as a medical event, but as an act of self-discovery. Exercises and activities such as journal writing, meditation, and painting will help mothers analyze their thoughts and face their fears during pregnancy. Pregnancy, birth, and postpartum is a process of continuous learning and adjustment; Birthing From Within provides the necessary support and education to make each phase of birthing a rewarding experience.

The Birth Book by William Sears M.D. and Martha Sears R.N.
Everything You Need to Know to Have a Safe and Satisfying Birth. William and Martha Sears, creators of the concept of "attachment parenting," turn their attention to the birth experience. In this helpful resource guide, the Searses cover the gamut of possibilities, and teach readers what they need to know to take control of their own birthings. The Birth Book is divided into three parts: "Preparing for Birth," "Easing Pain in Labor," and "Experiencing Birth." You'll find details about vaginal births; cesareans; VBACs; water births; home births; best birthing positions; drugs; pain; how to design your own birth plan; the humor, chemistry, and sexuality of birth; and pages and pages of birth stories.

The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth
This new edition of The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth has been extensively revised to reflect scientific advances and cultural trends. Here, candidly and reasonably presented, is all the information expectant parents need to make their own decisions about everything — from which tests to allow to how to handle pain to where to give birth. 300 photos, drawings & diagrams.

Rediscovering Birth by Sheila Kitzinger In Rediscovering Birth, Sheila Kitzinger enables women and their partners to make informed choices about how they want to live through their own unique experiences of birth and parenthood. Beautifully illustrated with hundreds of photographs and written in an intimate, informative style that both enlightens and engages her readers, Sheila Kitzinger looks closely at feeling and emotions in pregnancy, the physical and spiritual experience of giving birth, and the bonds that are traditionally formed between mothers and midwives. She chronicles ideas and mythologies about birth, as well as pregnancy traditions, from an array of cultures past and present — and, with perception and insight, explores how can we learn from them. And she focuses on the need today for vital and human connections in the birthing process, when medical procedures can overshadow the fundamental humanity of giving birth.

Birth Your Way by Sheila Kitzinger
The best way to choose birth at home or in the hospital. As research discloses the risks of intensively managed hospital birth, increasing numbers of women are considering alternatives. This new updated edition of Sheila Kitzinger's pioneering work gives them the facts. Highly informative yet sensitively written, and supported by firsthand accounts of women's personal experiences of birth, this is the essential guide for every woman considering her options. a longtime champion of freedom of choice in childbirth, Sheila Kitzinger is uniquely placed to advise and support women who want to make the right decision confidently for themselves.

Mother Rising: The Blessingway Journey into Motherhood
by Yana Cortlund, Barb Lucke, Donna Miller Watelet. An invaluable resource for planning and hosting a blessingway ceremony--a women-centered celebration that honors and pampers the mother-to-be.

Blessingways; A Guide to Mother-Centered Baby Showers - Celebrating Pregnancy, Birth and Motherhood by Shari Maser CCE A blueprint for woman-to-woman support of expectant and new mothers, this innovative guide to planning a personalized "mother shower" features imaginative invitation ideas, unique Blessingway celebrations, inspiring stories, and creative suggestions for including men and children. Original.

Mother's Nature; Timeless Wisdom for the Journey into Motherhood by Andrea Alban Gosline, Lisa Burnett Bossi, Ame Mahler Beanland This beautiful compilation of essays, literary excerpts, ancient wisdom, poetry, ritual suggestion, contemplation, and images, explores the journey into motherhood, a life-transforming adventure. Prayers, poems, and sage advice from a wide range of spiritual traditions and world-renowned authors, including Amy Tan, Alice Walker, and Isabel Allende, are included.

Breastfeeding Made Simple by Nancy Mohrbacher and Kathleen Kendall-Tackett Breastfeeding is natural, but it's not always easy. It is the biological norm, but it is not the cultural norm. By using the seven basic principles in this book, mothers can dramatically increase their likelihood of success and make breastfeeding the enjoyable experience it should be. The seven laws taught in this book are easy for mothers to understand and are sure to help them avoid some of the pitfalls that you might otherwise face. Includes all the latest research and techniques used by those in the lactation field.

The Brestfeeding Cafe' by Barbara Behrmann The Breastfeeding Café isn't a how-to manual on breastfeeding; instead, it offers a thoughtful forum for women to share their experiences with others. Approaching nursing as a feminist issue and one that is very important to child rearing, the book embraces the wide spectrum of women's experiences breastfeeding their children. Organized thematically and framed within a social and cultural context by a sociologist and former nursing mother of two, The Breastfeeding Café moves the subject of women nursing their children out from behind closed doors. A must-read for clinicians, breastfeeding consultants, and both new and expectant mothers who are curious about the nursing experience in all its variety.

Sleeping With Your Baby: A Parent's Guide by James McKenna, the world's authority on co-sleeping. A thorough guide to understanding how to make nighttimes with your baby safe, fun and relaxing!

the Baby Book by William Sears M.D. and Martha Sears R.N.
Focuses on the essential needs of babies. Addresses the questions of greatest concerns to parents today, from diapering and daycare to midwifery and "birthing rooms." Features information on every aspect of infant care, including the treatment of illnesses and infant nutritional requirements, and focuses on a baby's five needs: eating, sleeping, development, health, and comfort.

The Attachment Parenting Book by William Sears M.D. abd Martha Sears R.N. Attachment parenting is a highly intuitive, high-touch style of parenting that encourages a strong early attachment, and advocates consistent parental responsiveness to babies' dependency needs. The Sears' approach encourages parents to learn and work with their own baby's particular cues.

The Fussy Baby Book by William Sears M.D. and Martha Sears R.N. Does your baby fuss, cry, and want to be held all the time? Do you have an older child who's stubborn, opinionated, demanding - a real handful? Take heart. William and Martha Sears acknowledge the difficulties you face but show you how responsive parenting can turn these challenges into advantages for both you and your child. They demonstrate that despite tough beginnings, these children develop wonderful sensitivity, confidence, trust, and other desirable qualities. In fact, they demonstrate that difficult children can provide the most rewarding parenting experiences of all.

The Hip Mama Survival Guide by Ariel Gore Straight talk with attitude on the practical, legal, and emotional issues of motherhood. Hip, friendly, and wise with the experience of moms who've been through it all — including Gore's personal stories about the birth and childhood of her daughter Maia, who she raised while working her way through college. The Hip Mama Survival Guide walks mamas and soon-to-be mamas through issues that aren't covered as openly, honestly, and attitudinally anywhere else.

The Mother Trip by Ariel Gore
In her last book, outspoken urban mom Ariel Gore offered help for real-world mothers. In The Mother Trip, she gives her inspiration, encouragement, and moral support to unconventional moms. In these essays, she bashes the stereotype of the "good mother" and encourages readers to follow their instincts and redefine motherhood in their own terms.

MisConceptions by Naomi Wolf Motherhood turned out to be Wolf's toughest fight of the gender wars. The weeks after her daughter's birth taught her how inevitably society, employers, and even husbands, manipulate new mothers. In Misconceptions, Naomi Wolf demythologizes motherhood and stakes out feminist battlegrounds. She exposes the lack of compassion within the OB/GYN establishment; America's shockingly high rates of postpartum depression; the total inadequacy of a twelve-week, unpaid maternity leave.

Birth Crisis by Sheila Kitzinger
When a woman is denied all choice - feels as if she has been swallowed up by a vast machine and spat out at the other end with a baby - how can she come to terms with that ordeal?

Birth Crisis draws on mothers' voices and real-life experiences to explore the suffering after childbirth which has, until now, been brushed under the carpet. It is a fascinating and useful resource for student and practicing midwives, all health professionals, and women and their families who want to learn how to overcome a traumatic birth.

The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer
Certified Lamaze instructor and activist Henci Goer brings women the carefully researched facts they'll want to have--the complete rundown on modern pregnancy and childbirth.

Obstetric Myths Versus Research Realities by Henci Goer
Anyone working to improve the childbearing experience and help women avoid unnecessary intervention has encountered numerous "obstetric myths" or "old doctors' tales." The introductory chapter gives basic information about the different types of medical studies, how to evaluate them, and some basic statistical concepts. Each chapter begins with a stated myth, followed by an examination of the reality. Goer then analyzes the mainstream belief, pointing out its fallacies. This compact, accurate, and understandable reference tool is designed for people without medical training as well as care givers.

The Politics of Birth by Sheila Kitzinger
The Politics of Birth explores ways in which we learn about birth, how we talk and feel about it, assumptions that professional caregivers may make, and the roles and skills of midwives. Topics include home birth and water birth; the use of drugs in childbirth; obstetric and nursing interventions which are often used routinely; Caesarean sections; pressures that care-givers are under, and the choices presented to women that are more apparent than real. Throughout, the author draws on research-based evidence to present both an holistic yet grounded examination of topical issues surrounding pregnancy and childbirth. This is not a "how to" book. The aim of The Politics of Birth is to help the reader develop deeper insight and understanding of how a technocratic birth culture shapes our ideas about birth and obstetric practice.

Baby Catcher by Peggy Vincent is a provocative account of the difficulties that midwives face in the United States. With vivid portraits of courage, perseverance, and love, this is an impassioned call to rethink technological hospital births in favor of more individualized and profound experiences in which mothers and fathers take center stage in the timeless drama of birth.

A Midwife’s Story by Penny Armstrong
Birth by the light of kerosene lamps, without fetal monitoring systems, X rays, surgeons, or anesthesiologists. The nearest phone is several fields away. Penny Armstrong shares her experience of birth among the gentle, Old-Order Amish of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. A Midwife's Story is unique, a revelation of a very special place and an extraordinary life.

Adventures in Gentle Discipline by Hilary Flower Unlike some other books in this genre that leave you feeling like you could never measure up to the author's standards of parenting perfection -- and that can therefore end up taking a toll on your parenting self-esteem -- "Adventures in Gentle Discipline" is empowering and, above all, inspiring. This book takes that approach by bringing together the experiences of the true experts on gentle discipline: parents who have used this discipline method.

I'm Made of Mama's Milk by Mary Olsen
In simple rhyming verse, a blissful and contented nursling describes her love for nursing, how breast feeding benefits her, and when, where and how she nurses her mother. Colorful and dreamy soft-focus images realistically depict the joyful and sensual bond between the mother and child as well as the support and adoration of the father.

Becoming a Grandmother; A Life Transition by Sheila Kitzinger
For the millions of women who treasured her advice on childbirth and motherhood, Sheila Kitzinger now offers a no-nonsense, supportive, and enlightening guide on weathering the changes and savoring the pleasures of grandmotherhood. Drawing on interviews with women throughout the world, Kitzinger discusses the images of grandmothers ingrained in myth and memory and opens readers' eyes to the reality of being a grandparent today.

The Wisdom of Menopause  Christiane Northrup M.D.
In The Wisdom of Menopause, Christiane Northrup once again challenges convention with this inspiring look at one of the most commonly misunderstood female health issues. The “change” is not simply a collection of physical symptoms to be “fixed,” but a mind/body revolution that brings the greatest opportunity for growth since adolescence. Dr. Northrup shows women how they can make menopause a time of personal empowerment and positive energy–emerging wiser, healthier, and stronger in both mind and body than ever before.